cross over cable extension

[johncap100]

I would like to use a longer cable to go between my laptop and the cRio.  i realize it is best to use a cross over cable.  Does anyone know if i could plug in a cross over cable say to the cRio and then use a connector to add a longer regular cable and then plug that into the laptop.

Also i have heard that some laptops don't need a crossover cable as then can do the switching at the ethernet port.   is there a way to tell if my laptop will do that and then i could just use a regular ethernet cable between the cRio and the laptop.  I also know that the classmate will do the switching inside but i use another laptop for my programming work and would like to continue doing that.

Thanks

[BTreece]

You shouldn't have a problem with that.  The difference between a crossover cable and a regular cable is that the read and write pins are reversed.  This allows the read pin of one computer to be connected to the write pin of the other.  As long as pins are going to where they should be, then you should be fine.

Brandon T.

National Instruments

[sciencewhiz]

The ethernet link light will tell you if the connection is good. If you use a normal cable and still get a link light, then your laptop does do automatic crossover detection. The vast majority of computers do support automatic crossover detection.